as in fortresses
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
defenders at the border fortifications preparing for an attack
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Recent Examples of fortifications
Covering the sarcophagus Yellow daffodils bloom beside wartime fortifications at the Chernobyl plant as workers in ordinary clothes, with badges and special permits, pass through the restricted zone.
—
Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The fortifications on the southern and western sides stretch 1,312 feet long, predating the 1st-century legionary camp for which Vindonissa is famous.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Yellow daffodils bloom beside wartime fortifications at the Chernobyl plant as workers in ordinary clothes, with badges and special permits, pass through the restricted zone.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The area that would be renamed Donnyland under the plan is 50 miles long and 40 miles wide, but holds Ukraine’s best fortifications.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
Over many years, Iran has built underground fortifications and facilities to protect its missile and drone inventory.
—Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Star fortifications started in Italy, were perfected in France (especially by the prolific Vauban), and dominated the European military scene for the entire 17th and 18th centuries, giving Europe’s strategic cities and landscapes a distinctive architectural look.
—Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
And now our- General Caine, Secretary Hegseth, are leading a campaign to destroy all the fortifications along the straits of Hormuz.
—NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
Even though the border was relatively quiet for years, Israel also prepared for the next war with Hezbollah, gathering intelligence and building its own fortifications.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The fortifications on the southern and western sides stretch 1,312 feet long, predating the 1st-century legionary camp for which Vindonissa is famous.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Yellow daffodils bloom beside wartime fortifications at the Chernobyl plant as workers in ordinary clothes, with badges and special permits, pass through the restricted zone.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The area that would be renamed Donnyland under the plan is 50 miles long and 40 miles wide, but holds Ukraine’s best fortifications.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
Over many years, Iran has built underground fortifications and facilities to protect its missile and drone inventory.
—Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Star fortifications started in Italy, were perfected in France (especially by the prolific Vauban), and dominated the European military scene for the entire 17th and 18th centuries, giving Europe’s strategic cities and landscapes a distinctive architectural look.
—Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
And now our- General Caine, Secretary Hegseth, are leading a campaign to destroy all the fortifications along the straits of Hormuz.
—NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
Even though the border was relatively quiet for years, Israel also prepared for the next war with Hezbollah, gathering intelligence and building its own fortifications.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortifications
Noun
-
Surface tanks are targets; subsurface reservoirs are fortresses.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
France believed its Maginot Line of fortresses was impregnable – until the Germans simply went around it.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Additionally, independent candidates aligned with the Democratic Party raised more than Republican Senate incumbents in the deep red strongholds of Montana and Nebraska last quarter.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The Republican has leveled similar threats against Dallas and Austin, which are also Democratic strongholds with similar law enforcement and immigration policies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The surge in costs reflects a major shift for Chicago, known as one of the last bastions of big-city affordability.—
Bloomberg,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Israeli officials further compounded those fears Wednesday, with Avichay Adraee, Israel’s Arabic-language spokesman, accusing Hezbollah of moving beyond its traditional bastions of support in the southern suburbs of the capital and embedding itself in north Beirut and mixed neighborhoods.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Discover over 3 miles of beaches, hundreds of years of history (see old military forts and the iconic black-and-white Tybee Island Light Station, built in 1773), and lots of opportunities to explore nature.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
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The forts, palaces, gardens, mosques, mausoleums, and even cities that Mughal rulers commissioned reflect their ambition and affluence as much as their tastes and sensibilities.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The story is a bit murkier than Manichaean talk of stormers and citadels.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Intelsat’s leadership rapidly green-lighted the campaign to set up internet citadels.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The surrounding countryside is all rolling vineyards, quaint little villages, and majestic old castles.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Once tulip season ends, the ship moves to the Danube and Rhine rivers on eight- to 17-day sailings filled with castles, capital cities, and holiday markets, depending on the time of year.—
Susan B. Barnes,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fortifications.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortifications. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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